Procedures

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and PrinciplesDecember 6, 2023
2. 1.1.2Capacity and ConsentSeptember 19, 2025

1.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

1. 1.2.1Early Help Assessment and Plan (EHAP)
2. 1.2.2Thresholds of Need and Local Protocols for Assessment and Support
3. 1.2.3Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Initial Contacts, Referrals and Ealing Children's Integrated Response Service (ECIRS)
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsSeptember 19, 2025
3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)September 19, 2024
4. 1.3.4Chronology Practice GuidanceMarch 25, 2025
5. 1.3.5London Safeguarding Children Procedures
6. 1.3.6Team and Transfer Protocols (Local Resources)
7. 1.3.7Timescales and Standards (Local Resources)

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and Reviews
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
2. 1.4.2Appendix 1: Child in Need (CIN) Timescales at a GlanceSeptember 19, 2025

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersDecember 6, 2023
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsSeptember 19, 2024
4. 1.5.4Ealing Legal Proceedings ProtocolSeptember 19, 2025
5. 1.5.5Pan Sussex Section 7 Template (ADCS)
6. 1.5.6Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)
7. 1.5.7Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
8. 1.5.8Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS) - This hosts a series of practical resources, such as templates, tools and practice guidance, which will be of interest to those working in the family justice system.

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1Complaints and Representations
2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing

1.7Notifications

1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver up to and Including the Age of 24)September 19, 2025

1.8Safeguarding Children

1. 1.8.1Online Safety Policy
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
2. 1.8.2Safeguarding Children Missing from Care, Home and Education - Ealing Local Practice GuidanceMarch 20, 2026
3. 1.8.3Vulnerabilities Screening Tool (Local Resources, Safeguarding Children)
4. 1.8.4Neglect Toolkit (Local Resources, Safeguarding Children)
5. 1.8.5Safeguarding Children who may have been Trafficked (Local Resources, Safeguarding Children)

1.9Ealing Local Protocols

1. 1.9.1Emergency Duty Team
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
2. 1.9.2Protocol for Joint Working Arrangements: West London Mental Health NHS Trust Adult services and Children's Social Care (Local Resources, Safeguarding Children)
3. 1.9.3Working with Interpreters - Local Guidance for Teams (Local Resources, Safeguarding Children)
4. 1.9.4Lone Working Guide (Local Resources, Ealing Local Protocols)
5. 1.9.5Ealing Practice Standards

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesMarch 25, 2025
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionMarch 25, 2025
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsMarch 25, 2025
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicySeptember 19, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsSeptember 19, 2025
6. 2.0.6Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesDecember 6, 2023
7. 2.0.7Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffSeptember 19, 2025
8. 2.0.8Data Protection
9. 2.0.9Supervision Policy (Local Resources)

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities

1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMarch 25, 2025
2. 3.1.2Short BreaksDecember 6, 2023
3. 3.1.3Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsSeptember 19, 2025
4. 3.1.4Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkSeptember 19, 2024
5. 3.1.5Direct Payments
6. 3.1.6Transition

3.2Children from Abroad

1. 3.2.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaverySeptember 19, 2025
2. 3.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public Funds
   Updated
   March 20, 2026

3.3Housing and Homelessness

1. 3.3.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer September 19, 2025
2. 3.3.2Children's Social Care and Housing, Joint Protocol and AROH Panel for 16 and 17 Year old Young People who are/may be Homeless (Local Resources)
3. 3.3.3Homeless Families (Local Resources) (Local Resources)
4. 3.3.4Housing and NRPF - Local Guidance for Teams (Local Resources)

3.4Family and Friends Care

1. 3.4.1Family and Friends / Kinship Care
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
2. 3.4.2Private FosteringMarch 25, 2025

3.5Young Carers

1. 3.5.1Young CarersSeptember 19, 2025

3.6Relinquished Children

1. 3.6.1Relinquished ChildrenMarch 20, 2026

3.7Mental Health

1. 3.7.1Aftercare under Sections 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983September 19, 2024

4.Children Looked After and Care Leavers

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Decision to Look AfterMarch 25, 2025
2. 4.1.2Care PlanningDecember 6, 2023
3. 4.1.3Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2025
4. 4.1.4Permanence Planning GuidanceMarch 25, 2025
5. 4.1.5Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMarch 25, 2025
6. 4.1.6Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
7. 4.1.7Sufficiency Strategy: Looked After Children and Care Leavers Placements (2025- 2028)
8. 4.1.8Ealing Permanence Strategy (Local Resources)
9. 4.1.9NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsMarch 25, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsSeptember 19, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2024
4. 4.2.4Out of Area Placements
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
5. 4.2.5Placements Outside England and WalesMarch 25, 2025
6. 4.2.6Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2025
7. 4.2.7Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
8. 4.2.8Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersDecember 6, 2023
9. 4.2.9Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersDecember 6, 2023
10. 4.2.10Placements in Foster Care and Residential Care
    Updated
    March 20, 2026

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenMarch 25, 2025
2. 4.3.2Looked After ReviewsMarch 25, 2025
3. 4.3.3Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersDecember 6, 2023
4. 4.3.4Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsDecember 6, 2023
5. 4.3.5Notifications of Significant EventsSeptember 19, 2024
6. 4.3.6Advocacy and Independent Visitors

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMarch 25, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)December 6, 2023

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenSeptember 19, 2024
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKSeptember 19, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansDecember 6, 2023

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildDecember 6, 2023
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildDecember 6, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionMarch 25, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutSeptember 19, 2024
3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers (Local Resources)
4. 4.8.4Joint Housing Protocol for Care Leavers (Local Resources)
5. 4.8.5Ealing Local Offer for Care Leavers
6. 4.8.6Ealing Council Transitions Protocol for Young People Leaving Care

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody - Sentenced or RemandedDecember 6, 2023
3. 4.9.3Protocol between Ealing Youth Justice Service (YJS) and Children’s Social Care (CSC)September 19, 2025
4. 4.9.4Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceSeptember 19, 2025
5. 4.9.5London Protocol for Children in Custody

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelDecember 6, 2023
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringDecember 6, 2023
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approval of Foster CarersMarch 25, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions/Variations to Foster Carer Terms of ApprovalDecember 6, 2023
5. 5.1.5Supervisory Visits to Foster Carers
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersMarch 25, 2025
7. 5.1.7Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMarch 25, 2025
8. 5.1.8Allegations Against Foster CarersSeptember 19, 2025
9. 5.1.9Ealing Foster Carer Handbook

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Adoption Panel (Adopt London)
2. 5.2.2Placement for Adoption (Adopt London)
3. 5.2.3Adoption Support (Adopt London)
4. 5.2.4Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements (Adopt London)
5. 5.2.5Adoption Reviews (Adopt London)
6. 5.2.6Disruption of Adoptive Placements (Adopt London)
7. 5.2.7Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted (Adopt London)
8. 5.2.8Inter Country Adoption (Adopt London)
9. 5.2.9Non Agency Adoption (Adopt London)
10. 5.2.10Adoption Case Records (Adopt London)
11. 5.2.11Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records (Adopt London)
12. 5.2.12Intermediary Services (Adopt London)
13. 5.2.13Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters (Adopt London)
14. 5.2.14Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere
15. 5.2.15Life Story Books Guidance (Adopt London)
16. 5.2.16Later Life Letters (Adopt London)

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship Orders
   Updated
   March 20, 2026
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 19, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersSeptember 19, 2025
2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMarch 25, 2025
3. 6.0.3Working Together to Safeguard Children
4. 6.0.4Amendments